Live Blog - India vs England, 4th Test, Ranchi
Mohammed Siraj removes Tom Hartley with a beauty that beats the outside edge and crashes into off stump. Hartley had just evaded second slip with an edge that didn't carry but went past Yashasvi Jaiswal and ran to the boundary rope. He departs for 13, which also includes a thunderous six off R Ashwin over long-on. England are 245 for 7.
Siraj breaks through
Ben Foakes falls three runs shy of his half-century, caught by Ravindra Jadeja off the bowling of Mohammed Siraj to end a 113-run stand for the sixth wicket with Joe Root. The England duo led a recovery from 112 for 5 before Foakes chipped to short midwicket for 47. Root remains not out 75.
Fifty for Root
Joe Root brings up his fifty, working R Ashwin off his toes for a single. It comes off 108 balls with four fours - a slow and steady one but it's what was needed after England went to lunch five wickets down. He and Ben Foakes share an unbroken partnership worth 64 runs. Until now in this series, Root had scores of 29, 2, 5, 16, 18 and 7. It's his first Test half-century since his 91 at The Oval during the Ashes in July.
Stokes gone
Ben Stokes falls for just 3, sent packing by an excellent ball from Ravindra Jadeja that pitched right on middle stump and kept ever so low to strike the front pad just above the ankle. Stokes can scarcely believe it, gives a wry chuckle and shakes his head, knowing he couldn't have done too much more. England head to lunch on 112 for 5. It was debutant quick Akash Deep who did the most damage. He'll dine on 3 for 24 from seven overs as India well and truly claim the session.
Ashwin chimes in
No sooner has Jonny Bairstow brought up England's first fifty stand of the match with a four carved away in front of point and he's gone, trapped lbw by R Ashwin. It took an India review to secure the dismissal after Bairstow was originally adjudged not out by on-field umpire Rod Tucker. The ball pitched on leg stump from around the wicket and straightened to strike Bairstow high on the back leg as he knelt to sweep. Bairstow 38 off 35 balls in a 52-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Joe Root but England slip to 109 for 4.
Wow,wow!
Akash Deep turns this into a dream debut with the wicket of Zak Crawley giving him his third and putting England at 57 for 3 on the opening morning of this fourth Test. Pace bowler Akash, a replacement for the rested Jasprit Bumrah, removes Crawley for a run-a-ball 42 with one that hits an impeccable length from outside off and seams back in to clip the top of off stump. In his previous over, Akash had removed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope in the space of three deliveries.
Akash strikes (this time) - and how!
Now Akash Deep has his first Test wicket and it's with another gorgeous delivery. On a length and pitching just outside off from around the wicket, the ball jags away just enough and kisses the outside edge of Ben Duckett's bat as the keeper does the rest. Akash fiercely thumps the badge on his chest over and over - ouch! That'll erase the agony of that front-foot no-ball which spoiled his other stunner that sent Zak Crawley's off stump tumbling.
Make that his first two Test wickets! Ollie Pope departs for a duck, lbw after India review the original not-out decision. Replays show Akash is hitting the top of leg stump with a ball that seamed in to beat the inside edge and strike the pad right on the knee roll. England go from 47 for none to 47 for 2 after the debutant snares two in three balls.
